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News Round-Up: April 14, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Woofy Instastud Alex Abramov (above)  is ready for the weekend #TGIF

• “Kill The Gays” Pastor Kevin Swanson ripped the new live-action box office bonanza that is Beauty and the Beast on his radio show recently. Swanson went on a tear ranting that not only is there a gay character, but the flick promotes “inter-species breeding.”  #SRSLY

• Fox News is so excited about the “Mother of All Bombs” dropping on ISIS, they turned it into a music video. I kid you not…

• There are whispers that SCOTUS Justice Anthony Kennedy might be considering retirement soon. That would shift the Supreme Court to a solid 5 conservative judges, and open the door to bad things for LGBTs.

• Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed Assembly Bill 99 into law this week, extending protections to LGBTQ youth in child welfare and juvenile detention facilities. AB 99 requires foster parents to be trained on working with LGBTQ youth, and requires state and local agencies and facilities to treat a child in accordance with their gender identity.

• Beach weather is coming, which means it’s time to pull it up, kids. For your viewing pleasure, here are some tips for bumping up the booty, courtesy of trainer Mike Espinosa:

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Joe Biden Urges Trump Administration To Address Torture/Murder Of Gay Men In Chechnya

My man, former Vice President Joe Biden, issued this statement today via Facebook regarding the horrific human rights abuses against gay men in Chechnya:

“I am disgusted and appalled by reports from both the Russian media and non-governmental organizations that authorities in the Russian republic of Chechnya have rounded up, tortured, and even murdered individuals who are believed to be gay. When faced with such crimes of hate and inhumanity, it is the responsibility of every person of conscience to speak out—to oppose this campaign of violence before it continues further.

“Every man or woman on this earth is entitled to be treated with dignity—to live without fear and to love freely. Unfortunately, the human rights abuses perpetrated by Chechen authorities and the culture of impunity that surrounds them means that these hate crimes are unlikely to ever be properly investigated or that the perpetrators will see justice. But that does not mean that we should fail to defend basic human rights, fundamental freedoms, and universal values.

“I hope that the current administration lives up to the promises it has made to advance human rights for everyone by raising this issue directly with Russia’s leaders. The United States must lead the way to demand an end to these egregious violations of human rights.”

Where is President Trump on this?

We’ve heard nothing from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson nor United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Why so silent?

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CBS Stands By Decision To Air Transgender Outing On “Survivor”

Zeke Smith on “Survivor”

CBS is standing by its decision to broadcast the very personal revelation that occurred in this week’s Survivor “tribal council” when contestant Jeff Varner outed Zeke Smith as transgender.

Here’s the statement from CBS released to The Hollywood Reporter:

“After the tribal council scene in last night’s Survivor was filmed, we consulted with Zeke Smith and with GLAAD in advance of the broadcast, including the issue of how Zeke would tell his story after the episode aired,” the network said in a statement. “This is his second consecutive season on Survivor. From his first season through the current edition, we have always been guided by the principle that this is his story to tell, and it remains so. We support how [host] Jeff Probst and the producers handled a very sensitive situation and marvel at the grace Zeke exhibited under extraordinary circumstances. We have also respect for how Jeff Varner has expressed remorse for his mistake, both in the episode and in his subsequent dialogue with the media. In the end, we believe this episode, accompanied by Zeke’s own remarkable writing and speaking on the subject, has provided an unexpected but important dialogue about acceptance and treating transgender people with respect.”

I know there’s been discussion among LGBT activists about whether it was exploitive to include the “outing” in the Survivor episode.

My personal feeling is that, since this was done with Smith’s blessing, it’s a good thing.

Not only did the incident highlight how terrible outing transgender folks is, Smith handled the moment with so much dignity, that I think this was a positive for the trans community.

Plus, the reactions of outrage by his fellow contestants showed much broad support for the trans community.

If you haven’t read Zeke’s terrific personal essay about not only the experience of Survivor as a whole, but Varner’s outing of him, you really need to click here and read it.

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Putin Spokesman: “We Do Not Have Any Reliable Information” On Torture Of Gay Men In Chechnya

Russian President Vladimir Putin

As the world continues to respond in outrage over reports that over 100 gay men have been rounded up, beaten and tortured in Chechnya, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin denies any knowledge of horrific crimes.

“We do not have any reliable information about any problems in this area” in the Chechen Republic, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday.

Chechnya is a federal subject of Russia, and it’s leader – Ramzan Kadyrov – is a close ally of Putin.

In 2009, the American organization Freedom House included Chechnya in the “Worst of the Worst” list of most repressive societies in the world. Torture and executions are not uncommon in the Chechen Republic.

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New Music: “Billy Porter Presents The Soul Of Richard Rodgers”

Terrific new album available today from Tony, Grammy and NAACP Award winner Billy Porter, titled Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

As regular Randy Report readers know, Billy originated the role of ‘Lola’ in the Broadway hit Kinky Boots, to widespread acclaim winning the 2013 Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

On this project, Billy is not only the artist but serves as “Producer/Content Curator” on the album.

The album, which features new, soulful takes on classic Richard Rodgers songs, includes solos and duets featuring some of today’s most compelling artists.

The complete track listing for Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers is as follows:

1. Oh, What a Beautiful Morning (Pentatonix & Billy Porter)

2. My Romance (Leslie Odom Jr.)

3. If I Loved You (Renée Elise Goldsberry & Christopher Jackson)

4. With a Song in My Heart (Brandon Victor Dixon & Joshua Henry)

5. I Have Dreamed (Patina Miller)

6. My Funny Valentine (Cynthia Erivo)

7. I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair (Todrick Hall & Billy Porter)

8. This Nearly was Mine (Deborah Cox)

9. Bewitched (Ledisi featuring Zaire Park)

10. Carefully Taught (India.Arie & Billy Porter)

11. Lady is a Tramp (Billy Porter featuring Zaire Park)

12. Edelweiss (Billy Porter)

“I like to think of this as the Richard Rodgers version of the Hamilton Mixtapes,” Porter said. “These are classic songs that everybody knows and loves, and I’m so excited for people to hear them in a brand new way.”

This is Billy’s fourth album following the previously released Untitled, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul – LIVE, and Billy’s Back on Broadway.

Other theatre appearances include Shuffle Along, Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Mo, Grease, Smokey Joe’s Cafe all on Broadway; plus Dreamgirls, Angels in America, The Merchant of Venice, Radiant Baby, Birdie Blue, Songs for a New World, Ghetto Superstar (one-man show), Topdog/Underdog, King Lear.

Check out a few tracks from Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers below, including Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo’s luscious take on “My Funny Valentine” and Billy dueting with 4-time Grammy Award winner India.Arie on “Carefully Taught.”

If you’re in the New York City area, Billy and India.Arie will be doing a CD signing at the Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side in Manhattan on Monday. Details below.

A post shared by Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) on Apr 11, 2017 at 1:27pm PDT

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Creme, Creme, And Nothing But The Creme

Just yesterday, I was at the grocery store and while standing at the check-out, I noticed a display of Oreos.

Now, I don’t do cookies much, but I have long been aware of “Double Stuff” Oreos. But sitting right next to the pure sugar concoction was “Mega Stuff” Oreos.

Really?

And then, this morning while perusing my fellow bloggers, kenneth in the 212 shares the above.

#StopTheMadness

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Video: Drone Footage Of “Mother Of All Bombs”

Silent video footage, shot by a drone during the dropping of the “mother of all bombs” yesterday in Afghanistan by the U.S., shows the massive impact and range of the GBU-43/B.

According to reports, no civilians were hurt in the bombing – only a base used to launch attacks and a “tunnels complex” were destroyed, along with 36 ISIS militants.

The bomb, the largest non-nuclear in the U.S. arsenal, is dropped via Air Force planes and detonated before hitting ground which results in an enormous blast radius.

Watch below.

(source)

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“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Renewed For 10th Season

What happens when your Season 9 premiere has it’s highest ratings ever?

And your host wins the Emmy Award  for Outstanding Host of a Reality Competition Series?

It’s official: RuPaul’s Drag Race will return for a 10th season.

‘As we celebrate a Decade of Drag, we’ll continue to tell universal stories of the tenacity of the human spirit,’ RuPaul said in a statement about the series’ renewal.

‘Now more than ever, we rely on the power of love, laughter and creativity to combat fear and darkness.’

It’s no surprise really. A big boost in ratings (over one million tuned in for the Season 9 premiere),  guest judges like Lady Gaga, a move to VH1 on a new night, plus a surge in social media seems to add up to a winning combination.

Congrats, queens!

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Pentagon Prepares As North Korea Threatens Possible Nuclear Test

The above tweet from President Trump four years ago seems practically precognitive.

Of course, President Babyhands was talking about Obama at the time, but his past tweets have become his own prologue.

As word comes that North Korea could launch yet another nuclear test this weekend, the U.S. has moved several major military assets into the region.

NBC News reports:

The intelligence officials told NBC News that the U.S. has positioned two destroyers capable of shooting Tomahawk cruise missiles in the region, one just 300 miles from the North Korean nuclear test site.

American heavy bombers are also positioned in Guam to attack North Korea should it be necessary, and earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group was being diverted to the area.

According to reports, the U.S. could launch a preemptive strike if intelligence and military leaders believe the unpredictable North Korea might attempt the nuclear test.

How North Korea might respond is anyone’s guess.